TIGHT GAME ENDS IN TOUGH LOSS FOR WOLVES

Gaborik's hat trick outdone by Crusaders victory

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Thunder Bay, Ont.- The Timberwolves came home limping both literally and figuratively after their loss on Tuesday to the Dayton Musicmen. Making their chances against the CCHL's best on Thursday even that tougher.
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The Copenhagen Crusaders came to Thunder Bay as not only the top-ranked hockey club in the league, but far and away the hottest. They sport and arsenal of two 50-goal scorers and overall depth that is unrivaled. Needless to say, the Timberwolves had their hands full with even a healthy lineup. The loss of arguably their best shutdown defensmen, Anton Volchenkov in the Dayton loss would be dearly missed against the steamroller that is the Copenhagen Crusaders.
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Copenhagen opened up the scoring at 6:09 into the first period with a power play goal from Dennis Seidenberg. A score that would be doubled at 8:27 when former Timberwolf, Kyle Brodziak made it 2-0 with a short-handed tally.
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But Thunder Bay would not remain down and beaten. On the very next shift after the Brodziak goal, while still on the power play, Marian Gaborik [pictured] scored his 47th goal :08 seconds later to draw the Timberwolves within one.
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Gaborik would add another goal with the man-advantage at 11:22 to close out the scoring in the opening period and help his club's spirits up going into the intermission.
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"Gabby's been huge for us all season and he seems to get those big goals at the most opportune times," said Timberwolves defenseman, Erik Johnson at the break.
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In the second period, both hockey clubs played tight and limited each other's chances to keep most of the frame scoreless. But at 14:30, Tim Connolly drew blood again for the Crusaders to take the lead back.
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But as scripted, Gaborik was there again when the Timberwolves took advantage of another Copenhagen penalty. The Slovakian sniper notching his 49th and 3rd of the game to complete his third hat trick of the season, and tie things up once again going into the intermission.
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"We know we can play with anyone in this league," remarked forward TJ Oshie. "Copenhagen is as good as advertised, but we're staying with them. Now we have to hit that next gear and try somehow to get past them. We all know it's not a dream, but definately something we're fully capable of."
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Steven Stamkos had something to say about that.
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At 6:30, the CCHL's leading goal scorer added to his total with his 61st of the season. At 15:04, Stamkos added another for good measure to put the Crusaders up 5-3.
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A late goal from Oshie at 18:34 made things interesting, but in the end those two Stamkos goals were enough to take down the Timberwolves 5-4.
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"It sucks. There's not much more you can say about it," said Timberwolves goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. "We had all of the momentum and all it took was a couple shots from the wrong guy and we're down and out. Our goal was to come out with the two points. No matter how close it was and all that other stuff. We came in here to win, and we didn't. So we failed."
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"We took it to the best team in the league. More than most teams have. Yet we still couldn't get past them," said Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt. "I think we can take alot of positives out of this. Shots were 43-33 in our favour. We out hit them and really didn't succomb to their game. Obviously Marian [Gaborik] was stellar. But we still have to eat this loss and that's never anything you can be positive about."
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The Timberwolves play again on Saturday when they welcome the Havana Moon [29-40-3] and Thunder Bay-native's Eric and Marc Staal to the Canadian National Gardens.
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>>>3-STARS
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>>>*Marian Gaborik [THU] - 3 power play goals [hat trick]
>>**Tim Connolly [COP] - 1 goal and 2 assists
>***Jimmy Howard [COP] - 39 saves